An defence minister has revealed that the Ministry of Defence is actively examining the potential security risks posed by Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been told to avoid discussing secret information in any cars.
Safety Advice for Defence Staff
During a recent appearance on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed reports that MoD staff have been instructed not to discuss classified material while riding in Chinese cars.
The minister said that the MoD is “looking into” cars from China within its vehicle pools, however noted that safety is a issue in every contemporary vehicles.
We have a fleet of thousands of cars in the MoD and those vehicles represent a very small number.
However whether you’re driving a vehicle from China or a car from another country, what we’ve asked our staff is not to plug Ministry of Defence technology into their vehicle, not to have discussions at a classified classification in any kind of car, because of the increasing threats of surveillance that exist in all automobile, to only have those confidential conversations in protected areas. That’s a prudent and sensible thing for everyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be prudent for the MoD to stop using every cars from China, the minister replied: That is exactly what we’re investigating at the moment.”
Wider Security Background
The announcement follows reports from Norway and Denmark have warned the UK to the presence of dual-use kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and cause disruption to transport systems.
Additionally, a Russian intelligence vessel was reportedly directing laser beams at Royal Air Force pilots, labeled a “extremely risky” action by defence officials.
The wider defence environment highlights the significance of robust measures and vigilance in every areas of official activities, from vehicle use to discussions practices.
